How does Miller show his ability to build up tension in this extract? E

The Return of the King

The Return of the King furthermore, deservedly gets 9 focuses.

How to Shift Your Mindset from Short-Term Selling to Long-Term Success

How to Shift Your Mindset from Short-Term Selling to Long-Term Success Many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of seeing and treating everyone they meet as a potential buyer. This is especially true of entrepreneurs heading a fledgling company or startup.Always in pitch mode, these entrepreneurs see everyone as a potential customer or investor.While this tenacious, dogged determination to make a sale is likely to reflect well on your monthly revenue, it might cost you something bigger in the long run.It is like grabbing a handful of pretzels and walking away when you could actually have had the whole bag if you were only more patient and strategic in your approach.From the outside, business looks like a basic profit-and-loss operation.However, if you look closer, you will realize that though profits are the prize, they are not the foundation of a successful business.If you look closely, you will realize that business is social, and relationships are the cornerstone of business success.Good times come and go, but the meaningful relationships you have culti vated with clients, suppliers, investors, and other stakeholders will stay strong and help you ride through the bad times.Look closely into the history of any business that has existed for a long time and you will find that all went through bad times, during which they might not have been profitable, but they somehow managed to survive.Their customers were loyal. Their shareholders remained loyal and didn’t sell their stock.Their best employees didn’t quit. Suppliers, creditors, and all other stakeholders remained loyal, helping the business get through the rough patch.Overall, while focusing on sales and revenue is important, building meaningful relationships with stakeholders and your network as an entrepreneur is equally important.If you focus solely on short-term selling at the expense of cultivating solid relationships with clients and stakeholders, you leave your business vulnerable.Any small setback could bring the company to its knees.THE PRESENT VS THE FUTURE: PLAY THE LONG GAMEIn business, you have to strike a good balance between minding the present and preparing for the future. If you pay too much attention to the present, you risk having a precarious future.Conversely, if you pay too much attention to the future while forgetting the present, you risk not having any future to speak of as your business is likely to fail due to present unprofitability.In other words, you must do what you have to do to keep the business afloat, and at the same time, you should not get so caught up in making the business profitable at present that you lose sight of the big picture.Short-term selling might help the business survive today, but it won’t guarantee a secure future.The best-case future scenario for any business is to have a set of tenaciously loyal customers who act as brand ambassadors, bringing in more customers through word-of-mouth.In that best-case future scenario, you don’t have to pitch and market yourself as aggressively and expensively as yo u do today.You accomplish this by cultivating relationships with your customers.Show them they can trust you, that you are reliable. It takes time, but once you have their trust, they will keep coming back to your business and bring you new customers.If one of these satisfied, loyal customers happens to be an influential person, you have it made.They will sing your praises to their followers, bringing you an influx of many new customers who didn’t cost you anything to acquire. In other words, free advertising.THE MARSHMALLOW EXPERIMENT: LEARN TO DELAY GRATIFICATION Ever heard of Stanford’s Marshmallow Experiment?This was a series of studies done by Stanford professor, the psychologist Walter Mischel, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.The experiment involved giving children the choice between getting a small reward (a marshmallow, cookie, or a pretzel) instantly or double the reward if they waited a little bit longer.The tester would leave the room, giving the children time to co nsider the options.As you might expect, some of the children ate their marshmallow as soon as the researcher walked out of the room.Some fidgeted in their chairs, trying to restrain their desire for the marshmallow, but eventually gave in to temptation.Some of the children were, however, able to wait and receive two marshmallows once the researcher came back about 15 minutes later.Here is the interesting part of the marshmallow experiment.Follow-up studies years later established that children who preferred to wait longer were more likely to do well in life.Those who waited were more likely to have higher SAT scores, better social skills, lower likelihood of obesity, lower likelihood of abusing drugs, better response to stress, and so on.While the validity of the Marshmallow Experiment is in question, it is apt as a modern parable on the importance of foregoing small rewards today to enjoy bigger rewards tomorrow.For instance, if you postpone watching YouTube videos right now and in stead focus on your passion project, you will complete it sooner.At work, if you postpone checking emails and social media till later in the day, you will get more work done during the fresh morning hours.This is the first thought that should come into your mind when you prioritize short-term selling over a long-term strategy â€" that short-term selling is instant gratification.For instance, some entrepreneurs will even dupe customers into making a purchase that is not really valuable to the customer, provided they get the sale.While this might get you a sale today, it will have lost you a customer from whom you would have earned much more in future.On the other hand, someone who has a long term mindset focuses on developing relationships, even if it means not making any sale in the present.Eventually, they are able to derive more value from the customer than they would have done if they had just focused on making a single sale upfront.THE INCREDIBLE FORESIGHT OF JEFF BEZOS AND AMAZ ON: THINK BIG NOT SMALLTo understand the beauty of long-term thinking, I find it necessary to take a look at a little online bookstore that grew up to be one of the Big Four technology companies (alongside Google, Apple, and Facebook).This little online bookstore is none other than Amazon, the online retail giant.Jeff Bezos founded Amazon on July 5, 1994 in Bellevue, Washington. Note that unlike most technology companies, Amazon is not based in Silicon Valley. Amazon’s current headquarters are at Seattle, Washington.In the early years, Amazon was not a profitable company, and stockholders raised complaints about the slow growth. It was not until the first quarter of 2001 that the company turned its first profit: only $5 million.The company made its first ever annual profit in 2003, after having been in operation for 9 years.The company focused on long-term growth, not short-term profit, a strategy that has proven exceedingly wise, as the company now makes enormous profits.Surprisi ngly, its focus on long term growth over short term profitability contributed in the company’s ability to survive the dot com bubble burst, which took down with it several other tech companies.Jeff Bezos has described Amazon’s approach as long-term strategy with “heads down” focus on the customer.From the beginning, Jeff Bezos understood that the key to lasting business success is satisfied customers.He once said his company is built on three major ideas: thinking ahead, being obsessed with customer service, and a willingness to invent.Many companies worry about the competition, but Bezos understood that once you win over the customer, you have no competition.Amazon’s most important intellectual property, said Bezos, is its brand.With this in mind, Jeff Bezos guided the company to maintain its brand image by providing fast shipping, quality service, and convenience for customers.The idea was to conduct business in a way that aligned as perfectly as possible with human want s.For instance, when you buy online, you want the process to be as easy as possible and your order to arrive swiftly.The goal Bezos set for his staff from early on was “to build a valuable and lasting company”.   Most businesses that milk short-term profits lack a long-term vision.Jeff Bezos ensured his company was different. Even today, Bezos still encourages long-term investments even when they do not guarantee an immediate return on investment.Bezos’s growth-minded approach meant that the company was willing to spend money to make money.This meant foregoing annual profit for years, as the company cut prices, introduced free shipping, and invested in developing new devices such as the Kindle e-reader.Today, Amazon is so big that its workforce is over 575,000 people â€" this is nearly the size of Luxembourg’s population.The company provides hundreds of thousands of third-party merchants with storage, logistics, loans, and a selling platform.In addition, Amazon’s profitabl e cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services, is the industry’s global leader.In the fourth quarter of 2017, Amazon reported $1.86 billion in net income. Get this: what Amazon made during that quarter alone is equivalent to what the company made in 14 years of cumulative profits since its May 1997 IPO.More recently, in the first quarter of 2019, Amazon has made a record-high profit that is more than double of what investors predicted.The company generated $59.7 billion revenue and an operating income of $4.4 billion. Net income was $3.6 billion.Today, Amazon is counted not only among the most valuable companies in the world, but also among the most profitable.It has achieved this through foregoing short-term profits early on to focus on long-term success. Clearly Amazon would have passed the Marshmallow Test.LEARN TO SPOT POTENTIAL MENTORSSometimes making a sale is not the best gain that can be made out of a business relationship. Assuming you are a fledgling entrepreneur, what you need more than profits is clarified thinking.You need the wisdom of someone else’s experience to ensure you don’t have to learn through painful experience.You can get such wisdom from business books, but the thing about books is that they are static. You can’t ask them questions. They only allow so much nuance.Books are written to express a specific point, but real-life experience is usually more complex.The only way to navigate the complexities of real-world business is to talk with a businessperson who has been there, done that.When you meet such an individual, do you focus on making a short-term sale, or do you take a pause to consider the big picture and see how you can profit from this relationship in the long-term?I am not saying that you should not make the sale.What I am saying is that you should try to take your eyes off the sale first and look at the big picture.The sale can be the starting point of your relationship, but it should not be the end.An experienced entrepreneur can give you much needed mentorship.All you have to do is build a good rapport with them and move on from there.Who knows â€" they could even transition from a customer to an investor.In many cases, struggling businesses don’t need more money.They need better strategies. Pouring money into a bad strategy will only lose you money, but a good strategy will work out in your favor eventually, provided you see it through.Sometimes, only someone who has been in that situation will be able to see the mistakes you are making and give you a better strategy.The key to winning mentors over to your side is asking yourself one simple question: “What value can I offer them?” Don’t go in with a take-take mentality. What you need to do is to adopt a give-take mentality instead.If you help them out in some way, particularly in their business, they will naturally feel grateful and admire your restraint in not asking for something right away â€" a sign of the kind of long-term thi nking and delayed gratification they know goes far in business.Having earned their attention, you can earn their respect by asking for their advice instead of their money. Respect goes a long way in the world of business.To summarize this thought, focus on giving value, building meaningful relationships, and keeping an eye on what is truly important in the long run.With this strategy, organic success is sure to follow.THE PERILS OF GIVING DISCOUNTSOne of the key business skills that lead to success in selling goods is inventory management.If you handle your inventory properly and price your merchandise appropriately, your business has a high chance of turning a profit.The problem is you can’t always predict how much merchandise is enough or too much.This is especially problematic when you are dealing in seasonal merchandise â€" for instance, Christmas lights.In such a case, determining how much merchandise to stock up is a mix of experience, instinct, and gambling.On the one hand, if you don’t have enough merchandise, your customers will flock to your competition.On the other hand, if you have too much, you might make a loss as your excess stock continues to sit in storage when the season is over.One way to get rid of excessive stock is offering discounts. Discounts are a great way to sell more goods and make more profits.However, discounts are, in fact, a short-term selling strategy and could hurt your business in the long run.The problem with making a habit of relying on discounts to get rid of excess stock and make quick profits is that you train your customers to wait for the discounts.Furthermore, discounts punish loyal customers who are more likely to have bought goods earlier on at full price.Discounts are an excellent short-term tactic, but as a long-term strategy they are risky.Discounting is dangerous because it conditions your customer into devaluing your product.A case in point is when Apple offered the iPhone XR for $4449, a price that was $30 0 less than the official sticker price.Consistency and reliability are central to good branding. To protect the long-term value of your brand, you must practice disciplined marketing and be willing to forego short-term profits.Short-term financial gains are very tempting. They are obvious and quantifiable. It is literally having cash in your pocket.On the other hand, the long-term benefits of having a strong brand can seem vague and are not easy to quantify.Nevertheless, as an entrepreneur, you must be disciplined and avoid the temptation of short-term selling, lest you forfeit long-term success.SHORT-TERM THINKING IS EVERYWHERE: DARE TO STAND OUTIn 2018, a coalition of 200 CEOS from the US’s leading companies raised alarm that short-term thinking has becoming a big threat to the US economy.Warren Buffet, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, and Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase, wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that the market’s addiction to quarterly targets has led to companies s acrificing long-term strategy, growth, and sustainability for the sake of short-term profits.Nowadays CEOS are under high pressure to deliver quarterly results.Last year, one of the questions Mark Zuckerberg had to answer before Congress was about Facebook prioritizing short-term profits over the protection of user’s personal information.The allegations, whether true or false, of Facebook sharing user data with third parties have affected the company’s image.Another case of short-term mindset leading a big business astray is the Wells Fargo account fraud scandal, with the bank still under scrutiny from regulators for the creating fake accounts for clients without their consent.Similarly, the collapse of Lehman Brothers was a direct result of focusing on short term profits rather than long term success.The bank focused on risky Alt A mortgages to boost their short term earnings, but the collapse of the Alt A lending market (which was impending) led to the collapse of the bank as well.CEOS are under pressure from demands by activists and others on Wall Street who want them to boost profits from quarter to quarter.Furthermore, they also face pressure from their own boards and executive teams.However, about 75% of the US market is held by buy-and-hold investors.This type of investor is, by definition, interested in the long-term value of the companies they invest in.It can therefore be argued that CEOs should not feel so pressured to chase after short-term results.Long-term thinking is a common attribute among the most celebrated company builders â€" Steve Jobs at Apple, Sam Walton at Walmart, Herb Kelleher at Southwest Airlines, and Fred Smith at FedEx.Consider also that one of the most acclaimed investors of our time, Warren Buffet, is a long-game type of investor, so much so that his preferred holding period is “forever”.After the 2018 Parkland Shooting, Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods made the laudable, ethical decision not to sell guns to anyone y ounger than 21.By keeping their eye on the big picture, the two companies attracted good press and gained customer loyalty for doing what was right.Walmart had already banned sales of assault-style guns back in 2015, an even more impressive example of foregoing short-term profits.Back in 2014, CVS Health was the first national retail pharmacy chain to quit selling cigarettes and other tobacco products in all its stores.The company felt that selling cigarettes conflicted with the core purpose of a pharmacy, which is to help people on their path to better health.This gutsy move cost CVS Health $2 billion a year in revenues. The company also suffered a 7% drop in its stock price on the day CEO Larry Merlo announced the plan.Larry Merlo had his eyes on the big picture and was playing the long game.He believed that to transform CVS Health into a successful healthcare company, he needed to build credibility for the company. Time has proven him wise.CVS Health became financially strong eno ugh to acquire Aetna, the giant health insurer. Furthermore, today CVS Merlo is growing rapidly.WRAPPING UPShort-term selling is instant gratification. You might achieve some small gains at present, but this is usually done at the expense of even greater gains in future.As an entrepreneur, the question you should ask yourself is this: do you want to make money today, or do you want to build an enduring business?If it is latter, you must develop the discipline to forego short-term profits where short-term selling would harm your business’s long-term health.Note that this article does not advocate a disregard of profit-making.What we are arguing is simple: while it is important to focus on the now, don’t let the focus on short term gains derail you from your business’ long term goals.

7 Female Warriors and Queens

Eating Disorders Celebrities And Teen Girls - 974 Words

Eating Disorders: Celebrities and Teen Girls One may believe that slim celebrity pictures make people avoid being that weight, while it is also believed that these celebrities may be causing a weight drop in people around the world. Kelly Cutrone, owner of People’s Revolution, states that models are born with the characteristics needed to model, and these models are not unhealthy. Also, Psychologist Douglas Bunnell states that stars simply show the horrors of eating disorders, and how people should avoid disorders of this kind. However, it seems as though the models are underweight as many have passed out because of dehydration. In refutation to Bunnell, it seems, through studies, that smaller celebrities inspire young people to become the same, in turn, these people would become beautiful too. A transcript mentioned at the end by Larkin Mcphee proves this refutation with evidence from a model with an eating disorder named Kate Dillon. Often, many skinny celebrities or models have pictures taken that affect the insecuri ties of average people and trigger an eating disorder gene. As stated by Cutrone in a  ¬SIRS Issues Researcher database article under the minor title of Anatomy of a Runway Model, â€Å"I didn’t see any difference in the girls at all. When they bend over, are you going to see the rib cage? Yes, they are thin naturally†¦These girls are anomalies of nature. They are freaks of nature. They are not average in anyway†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hellmich) Cutrone means that these models are notShow MoreRelatedMedia’s Blow on Anorexia1054 Words   |  5 Pagesas an emotional disorder characterized by refusing to diet or eat. This is targeting young girls all across the world! This calamity is struck by something every person loves, social media. The media realm needs to be ceased from the websites that support dieting, celebrities displaying perfectionist bodies, and the social media world: their main victim to such disease are young teens. In particular media plays a role in anorexia in young teens because of social media and celebrities, the model industryRead MoreTaking a Look at Teenagers and Anorexia Essay1078 Words   |  5 Pagesand is a growing issue in the modern day. Teens, especially girls, are the most self-conscious group of people so it is not surprising that eating disorders are most likely to develop when a girl or boy becomes a teenager. Anorexia is the most common eating disorder in American teenage girls along with the most deadly of all psychological illnesses. Anorexia is an emotional disorder when one has an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat. Girls set an unrealistic standard in their mindRead MoreThe Influence Of Media Reporting On Society s Perception Of Beauty1730 Words   |  7 Pagesthat over the last decade the media has created an image that is unrealistic and unattainable for teenage girls. As such, based upon a macro perspective, the societal roles, status and expectations of young women have been impacted negatively. This paper will analyze how the combination of me dia reporting, socioeconomics and sociocultural factors contribute to the development of eating disorders as well as how society s perception of beauty has been distorted. This paper will further support the notionRead MoreSocial Norms Of A Female s Beauty And Body Image1234 Words   |  5 Pageseffect on teenage girls, leading many to develop eating disorders such as anorexia. There are two main types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Both of these types are characterized as a major concern about one’s weight and shape in a negative way. Bulimia is categorized as binge eating or excessive consumption of food. What tags along with bulimia is aggressive and short tempered side effects. Of the two, anorexia nervosa is the most common among teenage girls. Anorexia nervousRead MoreThe Negative Effects Of Advertisements On Children1278 Words   |  6 Pagesinsecure and imperfect. They use this insecurity to make a profit. But what happens when a person is pushed too hard? Both genders and all nationalities are affected by advertisements. The negative effects of advertisements include low self-esteem, eating disorders, and depression. Advertisements have been around for many years. They date back to the 18th century when Americans used advertisements to announce goods on hand (â€Å"American Advertising: A Brief History†). The notice of slaves being sold was anotherRead MoreBe Skinny or Die Trying1082 Words   |  5 Pages Most women have heard the word â€Å"anorexia†, and in all probability associate it with models, celebrities, and never think it could happen to them. However the word, â€Å"anorexia† has much more meaning and facts behind it to prove that it isn’t as farfetched of an idea as people may think. Anorexia Nervosa is an extremely dangerous eating disorder that is much more than celebrities and models, and not eating enough. Among women in the U.S., is a constant reminder with the underlying message being â€Å"beRead MoreAnorexia Nervosa And Its Effects On Society1514 Words   |  7 Pagesfrom Anorexia. Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder in which people suffering drastically restrict food intake due to an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image. There has been an unfortunate increase in people suffering from Anorexia Nervosa over the past several decades. Anorexia can be caused by a combination of social, interpersonal, and psychological factors that must be resolved through treatment. Anorexia is an extremely dangerous disorder that results in death for many peopleRead MoreThe Body Image Of A Woman1177 Words   |  5 Pagesto enhance the human body. The new ideal body image that was promoted in society began leading to excessive thinness and eating disorders affecting individuals today. One type of eating disorder that’s significantly influenced by society s ideal bod y image for females is Anorexia Nervosa. ( Dissatisfaction with bodies). Anorexia Nervosa is a dangerous eating disorder that consists of self starvation and excessive weight loss. Although approximately 95% of the people who suffer from anorexiaRead MoreExcessive Weight Loss Teenage Girls898 Words   |  4 Pagesall. She looks at the scale unsatisfied knowing twenty pounds is not enough. She, along with millions of teenage girls feel pressured to build or maintain the perfect body. Thoughts on how one perceives their psychical appearance or body image, can start at the age of six and last through adulthood. Due to the desire of excessive weight loss teenage girls are affected by eating disorders, relationships, and the strong opinion of the media. She leans over the toilet emptying the evil from within whileRead MoreHow Celebrity Fashion Affects Teens Self Image785 Words   |  4 Pagesto their favorite celebrities for guidance in their everyday lives. Celebrities have become mainstream role models for teens as their images and lifestyles are normally advertised across television, movies, magazines, and all throughout pop culture. Teens that try to emulate their favorite celebrities may select good or bad role models that can be positive or negative for them (www.child.net). Problems with teens linked to celebrities include teen behaviors resulting in celebrity influence and self

The Lesson Free Essays

The story â€Å"The Lesson,† by Toni Cade Bambara, is about a young girl named Sylvia who is accompanied by a group of her friends from her neighborhood and her elderly neighbor named Ms. Moore, who tries to teach all of them a lesson about life. â€Å"The Lesson† is a realistic story that takes place in the mid-20th century that exemplifies the true difference between upper and lower classes during that time period. We will write a custom essay sample on The Lesson or any similar topic only for you Order Now Although Sylvia might come off as a mean and cocky little girl, you can tell at the end that there is something deeper to Sylvia when she begins to reflect on her ay with Ms. Moore and actually seems to gain something out of the situation and you can tell Just how much sharp of an observer she truly is. Throughout the entire story, it is clearly shown that Sylvia is a mean girl. Right when Ms. Moore is introduced at the beginning of the story, Sylvia describes how she feels about her. â€Å"And we kinda hated her† (Bambara 60). She also says, â€Å"And I’m really hating this nappy head bitch† (Bambara 60). Although Ms. Moore is doing the children all a favor, Sylvia doesn’t seem to care and doesn’t even want to give her a chance. Another example for when Sylvia shows Just how mean she could be is right when she starts talking to Ms. Moore with all the other kids about money and about them going to the toy store, Sylvia mentions other things that she would rather be doing instead. â€Å"And would much rather snatch Sugar and go to the Sunset and terrorize the West Indian kids and take their hair ribbons and their money too† (Bambara 61). Not only does Sylvia come across as a rude little girl towards her peers and to the people she actually knows, but to other random children. She comes off as the neighborhood bully. Additional proof to show Just how mean Sylvia can be is when she asks Ms. Moore why she brought all of them to the toy store. Ms. Moore just simply tells Sylvia that she sounds angry and wonders why she is mad. â€Å"I’m mad, but I won’t give her the satisfaction† (Bambara 64). Even when Ms. Moore Just tries to see what is bothering Sylvia, she has an attitude. Although it was Just a simple question, and Ms. Moore didn’t mean it in a mean way, Sylvia still has to come off as this rude little girl. Even at the very beginning of â€Å"The Lesson,† you can already tell that Sylvia is a very ocky person. The author opens up the story showing a clear view of Just how cocky Sylvia can be. â€Å"Everyone was old and stupid or young and foolish and me and Sugar were the only ones Just right† (Bambara 60). Sylvia is implying that when it comes to her friends and everyone else she is surrounded by, she is ultimately better than them all. Sylvia’s close minded cocky attitude is also shown when Ms. Moore is discussing money with the children. Sylvia acts as if she knows everything and Ms. Moore is ignorant for even bringing up such a simple subject about how money works. And Miss Moore asking us if we know what money is, like, a bunch of retards† (Bambara 60). Considering Ms. Moore is trying to do the young children a the way of her retaining the true value out of what Ms. Moore has to say. More proof to show Just how cocky Sylvia is, is at the very end of the story. After the day is done with Ms. Moore, the children decide they are going to go to Hascombs and get cream soda’s. Sylvia’s cousin, Sugar asks her if she would like the race down there. â€Å"She can run if she want to and even run faster. But ain’t nobody gonna beat me at nuthin† (Bambara 65). Considering everything she had Just gone through and getting a reality check about life, Sylvia is still so convinced that she is the best. This shows just how much confidence she truly has in herself but at the same time her high level of confidence is easily mistaken for cockiness. Although Sylvia’s attitude often gets the best of her and she seems to be Just a rude little girl, at the very end of the story you can tell that there is much more to her than you might think. You can get a better understanding of Just how sharp of a girl she truly is after the day with Ms. Moore comes to an end. When the children all decide to go get cream soda’s at Hascomb’s, Sylvia decides to not Join in with the rest of them. You can tell she has a lot going through her mind after getting a taste of reality by Ms. Moore. I’m going to the West End and then over to the Drive to think this day through† (Bambara 65). You can assume that although Sylvia is too stubborn to admit that she has actually gotten something out of that day, she keeps to herself and decides to reflect on what she had been introduced. Another time that Sylvia seems to let her guard down and kind of shows how she is observant to her urroundings is when she is about to walk into the toy store. She doesn’t understand what the big deal is about going inside but at the same time she Just doesn’t feel comfortable about going in. But I feel funny, shame† (Bambara 63). At this point Sylvia begins to realize that there is something to this trip to the toy store. For a second she doesn’t feel as cocky and is almost insecure with herself to where she can’t bring herself enough courage to Just walk into the toy store. It seems that Ms. Moore’s lesson does actually affect Sylvia in the long run. She ets her mean, cocky demeanor down Just long enough to show the reader that she actually did get so mething out of that day. Considering the fact that she does only have that brief second of where you see her whole attitude change, you can understand Just how set in her ways she truly is. From coming off as a rude little girl throughout the entire story and then all of a sudden for that short time you get to see her actually take what she saw into consideration, you can get a better idea that there is more to Sylvia than what is illustrated to the reader throughout the duration of the story. How to cite The Lesson, Papers

Putting On The Rye Essays - Literary Realism, The Catcher In The Rye

Putting On The Rye One of the many fascinating themes in the novel, ?The Catcher in the Rye,? brings us face to face with a jarring assault not unlike road rage on modern society and serves as a wake up call to each succeeding generation of its readers. J.D. Salinger, speaking through the protagonist Holden Caulfield, exposes the bogus standards and false values and the insensitive, sham relationships we face in our pretentious modern society. Alone, Holden stands tall against those counterfeit standards and the flagrant hypocrisy that surrounds us in the most casual and innocuous of life's endeavors?a simple conversation, and all from a quixotic yet desultory view of society. It is almost ironic that we learn this from the first person point of view. Salinger popularized the interior monologue in this novel. This approach helps us to understand Holden, observing a society he cannot accept, forever the outsider desperately clinging to the garish, ostentatious red hunting cap that is emblematic of a chi ldish security blanket or a badge of honor. What is a phony? Webster's Collegiate defines it as someone or something that is fraudulent or spurious. When Holden uses the word ?corny,? he means fake or artificial, as in a false character or appearance. Holden sincerely believes that society in general claims an appearance of importance not justified by the thing's value or the person's standing. Holden seems obsessed with the concept since he uses it on pages 52, 77, 84, 86, 100, 142, 151, 172, and 205. In Chapter One, Holden describes Pencey's ad campaign as ?strictly for the birds.? He tells Spencer that he was ?surrounded by phonies? in an earlier prep school. Even the headmaster discriminated against ?funny-looking parents? on visiting day. Holden labels teachers and administrators phonies because they are less than perfect. He even dismisses his brother, D. B. as a phony for selling out to ?Hollywood?. He criticizes the disciples for being human, yet he is the atheist. In Chapter Three, Holden continues his view of phonine ss in the business world when he talks about the dorm named for Ossenburger. Most of the novelthen focuses on earnest but futile attempts by Holden for a close encounter of the third kind or to reach out and touch someone. One wonders whether Holden would have availed himself of 911 or help hotlines that were not in vogue then. But then telephony is not his strong suit, what with only 3 phone numbers in his address book. Unfortunately, these cacophonous dialogues end in hostility. He seems to self-destruct in his mission impossible chats with Ackley, Stradlater, the 3 women, Sally Hayes, and Carl Luce. Comedienne Joan Rivers could have stolen the line, ?Can we talk from Holden. Others like Lillian Simmons, Ernie the piano player, the people in magazine stories, and even the ministers in all his prep schools are putting on airs, a fa?ade, a persona. This failure to communicate is mostly his fault, though. It's almost as if he lashes out at himself in a self-flagellating ritual. Whether Holden's society fails him at home, in school, in religion, or in extraordinary interactions with ordinary people, the fear of a ?phony? imperfect and inconstant society, in the end, overwhelms Holden. Is he justified? In Holden's mind, indubitably. Will he ?apply? himself or revert to shadow boxing with his nemesis once he leaves the rest home? Only J. D. knows the answer to that question, and he absconded to the ?woods? and isn't talking. But Holden does leave us with a few context clues, if you know how to read between the lines, that lead one to believe that he sees the light at the end of his tunnel vision. English Essays